Established in 1919, Junior Achievement (JA) is the world's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their future, and make smart academic and economic choices. JA programs are delivered by corporate and community volunteers, and provide relevant, hands-on experiences that give students from kindergarten through high school knowledge and skills in financial literacy, college/career readiness and entrepreneurship. JA programs empower students to make a connection between what they learn in school and how it can be applied in the real world – enhancing the relevance of their classroom learning and increasing their understanding of the value of staying in school.

Established in 1947, Junior Achievement of Western Connecticut (JAWCT) currently works in partnership with over 1,200 community/corporate volunteers and educators providing empowering programs to over 22,000 students across 20 communities. JA reaches 4.6 million students per year in 113 markets across the United States, with an additional 5.6 million students served by operations worldwide.

At A Glance

Year of Incorporation1946

Organization's type of tax exempt statusPublic Supported Charity

Organization received a competitive grant from the community foundation in the past five yearsYes

Leadership

CEO/Executive DirectorMs. Bernadine Venditto

Board ChairMr. Craig Winslow

Board Chair Company AffiliationL. Catteron

Financial Summary

Projected Revenue$671,125.00

Projected Expenses$670,480.00

Statements

MissionEstablished in 1919, Junior Achievement (JA) is the world's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their future, and make smart academic and economic choices. JA programs are delivered by corporate and community volunteers, and provide relevant, hands-on experiences that give students from kindergarten through high school knowledge and skills in financial literacy, college/career readiness and entrepreneurship. JA programs empower students to make a connection between what they learn in school and how it can be applied in the real world – enhancing the relevance of their classroom learning and increasing their understanding of the value of staying in school.

Established in 1947, Junior Achievement of Western Connecticut (JAWCT) currently works in partnership with over 1,200 community/corporate volunteers and educators providing empowering programs to over 22,000 students across 20 communities. JA reaches 4.6 million students per year in 113 markets across the United States, with an additional 5.6 million students served by operations worldwide.

BackgroundNationally, JA was founded in 1919 by Theodore Vail, president of American Telephone & Telegraph, Horace Moses, president of Strathmore Paper Co., and Senator Murray Crane of Massachusetts. These three men sought to provide programs to help youth succeed in an economy rapidly shifting from an agricultural base to the industrial age. This dream was realized through JA's first program, entitled the Company Program, where students formed an actual company under the advisement of volunteers from business and industry. Over the past 90 years, JA has expanded its activities and broadened its scope. By continuing to use adult mentors from the business community to deliver programs and inspire students, JA now helps today's youth prepare for the opportunities and realities of work in the 21st century global marketplace. Each year, over ten million K-12 students in 113 countries receive JA programs, which focus on three themes crucial to youth's economic and educational development: workforce readiness, financial literacy and entrepreneurship.

Junior Achievement of Western Connecticut (JAWCT) was founded in 1947 to fulfill that purpose. As it moves into its seventieth year, JAWCT has improved educational outcomes for over 300,000 students in grades kindergartern through 12th, from all racial, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds in the twenty towns it serves.

Impact

Goals:

In alignment with JAWCT's strategic plan, our goal is to continue to increase the middle and high school markets where there is the greatest need and potential for impact.

Accomplishments:

JAWCT's three year strategic plan outlines student growth of 10%; including a shift from elementary to middle elementary school; a focus on underserved communities and an increase in middle and high school markets. This past year, our student growth in the high school market increased 25%, and 23% in the middle school market.

During the 2016-2017 school year, Junior Achievement of Western Connecticut taught 22,469 students about business, jobs and the importance of education for success. 1,200 business and community volunteers provided JA programs to 20 Connecticut towns in the Greater Bridgeport, Lower Naugatucuk Valley and Greater Danbury service area resulting in:

Increased students' understanding of money, the world of work and the importance of education for a successful future

Increased mentoring relationships provided by caring adults in the community

New business and education partnerships that create a bridge between the classroom and the workplace.

Increased student awareness of local businesses, industries and career opportunities.

Program accomplishments include:

- Innovation Day: High School students become innovators at this one-day event. They learn how to utilize skills such as teamwork, collaboration, critical thinking and brainstorming to develop innovative solutions to today’s problems. All innovation days begin with an overview of the organization, instructions and mentor assignments. The day ends with a presentation made by each student team.

- High School Heroes:High School Junior Achievement students show off the presentation and leadership skills they learned through JA programs by volunteering in elementary school classes. This year, we had two new schools participate (Derby and Bassick HS, and expanded involvement with Central HS students). Many of the HS volunteers were JA students themselves and had the unique ability to utilize what they learned in their JA program as well learning how to give back within their own communities.

- LinkedIn Workshop: Classes at Derby, Bethel and Central high schools learned the importance of their LinkedIn profiles from Mike Walters, a seasoned Microsoft employee who knows the ins and outs of how to best use LinkedIn for your professional profile. This workshop aimed to introduce participants to creation of a thorough and engaging LinkedIn profile and strategies for building their personal brand on LinkedIn. By the end of the workshop, students were exposed to the key elements of an effective profile and to several strategies to build their personal brand. Both teachers AND students were asking questions and thinking of ways to better build their own brands.

- Virtual Business Challenge: 15 area high schools (60 students) competed from the comfort of their own classrooms in our first virtual business challenge. Using Junior Achievement’s high school business simulation program, the JA Business Challenge places high school students in the CEO’s seat. Young entrepreneurs are taught in an engaging way about the nuances of running a global business in a competitive, high-tech marketplace. Student teams strategize to operate the most successful virtual business as they develop skills in teamwork, problem solving and critical thinking. Companies (teams) are challenged to outperform the competition in profit, sales and market share.

Needs

All programs are provided free of charge to schools and students. Each fiscal year we need to re-raise our organizational budget to deliver existing program and meet requests for program expansion.

2. Funding to support new and existing K-12 programs in the Greater Bridgeport, Greater Danbury and Lower Naugatuck communities.

CEO Statement

JA of Western
Connecticut’s vision is to be a premier organization, making a positive impact
on the lives of all students in our service area by developing habits for
long term success and giving them a hand up for their future.

Behind each one of the 22,000+ young people we reach, are many caring and generous adults who donated their time, energy, passion and financial resources.

Members of our team included:

· More than 1,200 volunteers from corporations and the community who invested countless hours of their time; 1,000 educators at 100 schools in 17 communities.

· Many individuals, foundations, corporations and community partners who donated over $360,000 last year.

· More than 700 friends of Junior Achievement who participated in special events that netted over $280,000.

· 23 members of our board of directors, along with 5 members of our Valley community board, 10 members of our Danbury community board and 7 members of our Bridgeport community boards who are deeply committed to the Junior Achievement mission.

· The incredibly dedicated and hardworking members of JA’s staff.

These numbers underscore what helps to make Junior Achievement of Western Connecticut so effective – the powerful partnership between businesses, schools and the community, all focused on empowering students to own their own economic success. Thank you to each volunteer, educator, funder and community leader who invested time and resources in Junior Achievement of Western Connecticut.

We invite you to support this remarkable effort which ensures a brighter future for each of our Junior Achievement students – and, as a result, for our community.

Board Chair Statement

It is my pleasure to serve as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for Junior Achievement of Western Connecticut. I served as a member of the Board of Directors for five years before being appointed as the new Chairman. I thoroughly enjoy teaching JA in the classroom and I am particularly pleased when students mention that they remember the JA class I taught in their school.

I am proud to see how Junior Achievement of Western Connecticut has grown and evolved to meet the needs of communities it serves and provide skills for the 21stcentury workplace. Though fundraising and allocation of funds are cornerstones of every Junior Achievement, we are also leaders in our region in bringing people together for the benefit of the community. Our volunteers are an incredible resource that fosters direct community involvement through volunteerism. Additionally, the funds that we raise here in the community stay in that area unless a donor directs them to go elsewhere.Throughout my various experiences as a business executive, Board member and classroom volunteer, I am adamant that JA of Western CT’s core mission of “work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy,” is more critical now than ever! My goal as Board chair is to continue the great progress we have made in restructuring and building our Boards, strengthening our financial position, and ensuring that our programming is high quality and impactful, particularly in the middle schools and high schools.

I could go on and on about our numerous involvements in the community, but perhaps the best way to keep up with us would be to visit our website www.jawct.org. We have a 70 year history of meeting the needs of the communities we serve and are excited about the future in positively impacting more young people.

JA of Western Connecticut has had a positive influence for students in the following communities: Bridgeport, Fairfield, Stratford, Trumbull, Bethel, Brookfield, Danbury, Monroe, New Fairfield, New Milford, Newtown, Wilton, Ansonia, Derby, Seymour, and Shelton improving educational outcomes for students from all racial, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds by providing empowering financial literacy, work readiness and entreprenurial programs for over 22,000 students in grades K-12.

JA offers a distinct method of empowering youth to own their future economic success. The central theme found across JA’s research-based financial literacy, entrepreneurship and work readiness curriculum is that excellence in school leads to success in the real-world. All programs emphasize this school-to-career idea while teaching real-life concepts, such as ethical decision-making, opportunity costs, money management, career preparation and global competition while reinforcing important life skills, such as critical thinking, public speaking, teamwork, problem solving and budgeting. JA’s K-12 curriculum is organized into grade-specific elementary, middle and high school programs, and taught by local volunteers from the business community during the regular school day. These volunteers are recruited and trained by JA staff, and their time spent in the classroom is fundamental to our success; they lead activities while sharing their own life experiences, challenge students to think beyond their present circumstances, and reinforce basic skills crucial to succeeding in our modern economic system.

All JA programs are FREE to participating schools, volunteers and students.

JAWCT reaches nearly 70% of the student population in the city of Shelton. That is the highest participation rate in this region and among the highest participation rates in the state, in part due to the support of Pitney Bowes. JA has succeeded in bringing its programs to the remaining three Valley cities of Ansonia, Derby and Seymour. While maintaining its program impact in the Greater Bridgeport and Greater Danbury areas.

-At Seymour High School JA financial education classes were increased from two to eight classes as requested by the superintendent.

-Perry Hill Middle School received JA programming for the first time. Forty-three business volunteers from Pitney Bowes, Prudential, Perkin Elmer, Rexel Holding and Gexpro delivered the JA Program positively impacting 865 5th and 6th grade students with presentations by Mayor Lauretti and Superintendent Freeman Burr.

-Strengthen the Valley Community Board with new leadership and members:Chair, Ruth Parkins, Iroquois Pipeline Operating Company and Vice Chair, Carla Sullivan, Valley Community Foundation; New member Albert Schneck, Wells Fargo Bank.

Additionally a testismonial from a Shelton teacher demonstrates JA programs are having a positive impact on our young people in the Valley area.

"Shelton Intermediate School has been involved in JuniorAchievement for many years. Junior Achievement of WesternConnecticut has helped us so that every year, 100% of ourstudents receive instruction from Junior Achievement volunteersthrough our 'J.A. in 2 Days' program. It has become a yearlyevent at SIS. The program compliments both our Social Studiesand our Business Education curricula and incorporates writing andmath skills as well. The volunteers are so well-trained; it isalways a success and a great experience for our students."

A generous multi-year grant from The Valley Community Foundation provides vital financial literacy education and life skills programs for nearly 5,000 students in grades K-12 in the lower Naugatuck Valley communities during the 2017-2019 school years.

JAWCT reaches nearly 70% of the student population in the city of Shelton. That is the highest participation rate in this region and among the highest participation rates in the state, in part due to the support of Pitney Bowes. JA has succeeded in bringing its programs to the remaining three Valley cities of Ansonia, Derby and Seymour. While maintaining its program impact in the Greater Bridgeport and Greater Danbury areas.

-At Seymour High School JA financial education classes were increased from two to eight classes as requested by the superintendent.

-Perry Hill Middle School received JA programming for the first time. Forty-three business volunteers from Pitney Bowes, Prudential, Perkin Elmer, Rexel Holding and Gexpro delivered the JA Program positively impacting 865 5th and 6th grade students with presentations by Mayor Lauretti and Superintendent Freeman Burr.

-Strengthen the Valley Community Board with new leadership and members:Chair, Ruth Parkins, Iroquois Pipeline Operating Company and Vice Chair, Carla Sullivan, Valley Community Foundation; New member Albert Schneck, Wells Fargo Bank.

Additionally a testismonial from a Shelton teacher demonstrates JA programs are having a positive impact on our young people in the Valley area.

"Shelton Intermediate School has been involved in JuniorAchievement for many years. Junior Achievement of WesternConnecticut has helped us so that every year, 100% of ourstudents receive instruction from Junior Achievement volunteersthrough our 'J.A. in 2 Days' program. It has become a yearlyevent at SIS. The program compliments both our Social Studiesand our Business Education curricula and incorporates writing andmath skills as well. The volunteers are so well-trained; it isalways a success and a great experience for our students."

Dina MarksShelton Intermediate School

CEO/Executive Director

Ms. Bernadine Venditto

Term StartMar 2008

Emailbvenditto@jawct.org

Experience

Bernadine joined Junior Achievement of Western Connecticut in the fall of 2005 as a Program Manager and was promoted to President in July 2008. Under her leadership, the organization has achieved financial stability moving from operational deficits to consistent surpluses while, at the same time, each year increasing the number of students participating in JA programs by 10% and expanding program at the middle and high school levels. One of the new initiatives Bernadine has brought to the organization is the highly successful High School Business Challenge, a mission based fundraising event. Bernadine holds a B.A. in International Trade from Hofstra University.

In a recent Junior Achievement USA benchmark study comparing JAWCT to other JA areas of similar market size, performance and program delivery, JAWCT was above the national average in efficiency and productivity per full time employee equivalent. Organizational growth would indicate a need to secure additional resources to continue at this performance level.

Each fiscal year we need to re-raise all the funds necessary to provide existing program, including strengthening, stewarding current donor relationships and developing new donor partnerships. With lean staff resources, meeting those needs while growing our funding base is among our greatest challenges.

Although we have a strong corporate and foundation donor retention rate, relying on this model leaves us vulnerable to changes in the economy, institutional priorities and a challenging fundraising environment.

According to The Osborne Group, an independent nonprofit consulting firm, “It is recommend that JAWCT begin to integrate individual giving more fully into its fundraising and diversify its fundraising base.”

To increase our individual giving by a significant amount will require cultural and practical changes in the board, including seeing their role as a personal obligation rather than a corporate obligation. It will also require the examination of staff roles and additional resources.

Foundation Staff Comments

This profile, including the financial summaries prepared and submitted by the organization based on its own independent and/or internal audit processes and regulatory submissions, has been read by the Foundation. Financial information is inputted by Foundation staff directly from the organization’s IRS Form 990, audited financial statements or other financial documents approved by the nonprofit’s board. The Foundation has not audited the organization’s financial statements or tax filings, and makes no representations or warranties thereon. The Community Foundation is continuing to receive information submitted by the organization and may periodically update the organization’s profile to reflect the most current financial and other information available. The organization has completed the fields required by The Community Foundation and updated their profile in the last year. To see if the organization has received a competitive grant from The Community Foundation in the last five years, please go to the General Information Tab of the profile.

Related Information

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